Codemasters has finally pulled the wraps off of the last four cars in its classic list for the upcoming F1 2017, the official videogame of the 2017 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP! The addition of four classic McLarens (although “classic” may be stretching the point a bit in at least one case) brings the total roster of previous season F1 cars to twelve.
The four McLarens shown are historically significant for a variety of reasons. The 1988 MP4/4 was driven by Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna, who used it to dominate the season, winning fifteen out of sixteen races and claiming all but one pole position. It was the car that powered Ayrton Senna to his first world championship. The 1991 MP4/6 was driven by Ayrton Senna and Gerhard Berger during the 1991 season, who took a combined eight wins, ten pole positions, and 148 points. That year Ayrton Senna scored his third and final world championship.
1998 McLaren MP4/4
The 1998 MP4-13, driven by Mika Häkkinen and David Coulthard also dominated that season, with Häkkinen winning his first Drivers’ Championship and McLaren securing their first Constructor’s title since Senna’s championship season. The 2008 MP4-23, driven by Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen, was the car that Hamilton won his first World Drivers’ Championship in. That finish was particularly dramatic, as it came with an overtake in the final corner of the final lap of the final grand prix of the season for Hamilton to score the necessary 5th place finish and capture the Drivers’ title by a single point from Ferrari’s Felipe Massa.
1991 McLaren 4/6
The other eight classics to be included in F1 2017 are the following:
- 1992 Williams FW14B
- 1995 Ferrari 412 T2
- 1996 Williams FW18
- 2002 Ferrari F2002
- 2004 Ferrari F2004
- 2006 Renault R26
- 2007 Ferrari F2007
- 2010 Red Bull Racing RB6
This is, overall, a pretty solid classic group. It’s tough to have a group of McLarens that doesn’t include James Hunt’s M23 or a group of Ferraris that’s missing Niki Lauda’s 312T, but aside from that quibble, there’s definitely not a stinker in this group. Virtual drivers wishing to collect the entire set should note, however, that the 1988 McLaren MP4/4 will only be available with Day One edition purchases or pre-orders. The remaining eleven classics are available throughout all game versions.
1998 McLaren MP4-13
F1 2017 is slated for release on the PlayStation®4, Xbox One, and Windows PC via Steam on August 25th, 2017.
